KANSAI HELIOS Restructures Its Architectural Coatings Operations in the Adriatic Region

The KANSAI HELIOS Group has announced a strategic reorganisation of its architectural coatings production footprint across the Adriatic region. The initiative aims to create a more focused, efficient, and future-ready manufacturing network by strengthening core capabilities at dedicated centres of excellence. As part of this regional restructuring, the company will gradually transfer the production activities currently carried out at Chromos boje i lakovi d.d. in Zagreb to its manufacturing facilities in Slovenia and Serbia. Consequently, production at the Zagreb site will be phased out over the coming years. Despite the manufacturing transition, KANSAI HELIOS Croatia d.o.o. will continue its commercial operations, ensuring uninterrupted service and support for the strategically important Croatian market.

The reorganisation follows the steady expansion of KANSAI HELIOS' architectural coatings business, which has established a strong presence across the Adriatic region. While this growth has strengthened the company's market position, it has also increased the complexity of its regional manufacturing network, limiting operational flexibility in an increasingly dynamic market environment. To enhance long-term competitiveness, KANSAI HELIOS is aligning its architectural coatings production, technology, and research and development (R&D) activities across its manufacturing network and strengthening key capabilities in dedicated centres of excellence.

As part of the reorganization, production activities currently undertaken at Chromos boje i lakovi d.d. in Zagreb will be gradually transferred to KANSAI HELIOS' existing manufacturing facilities in Slovenia and Serbia, resulting in the phased discontinuation of production at the Zagreb site. Despite this transition, the Croatian market will remain strategically important to the Group. KANSAI HELIOS Croatia d.o.o. will continue to operate as a dedicated trading company, offering the full KANSAI HELIOS product portfolio while ensuring uninterrupted service and continued support for customers and business partners.

The Group will carry out the transition in carefully planned phases over the coming years to ensure a seamless and well-coordinated transfer of production activities. Maintaining a reliable supply of products throughout the transition will remain a key priority for KANSAI HELIOS. The company is committed to ensuring business continuity for its customers by maintaining existing product formulations, performance standards, and quality levels. Backed by proactive inventory management and buffer stock planning, local distributors and retail partners will continue to benefit from consistent product availability during the transition period.

KANSAI HELIOS acknowledged that the reorganisation will have a direct impact on its workforce at the Zagreb site and recognises the uncertainty it may create for its employees. The company stated that it is committed to managing the transition responsibly and transparently, with due consideration for its employees and their long-standing contributions and expertise. Employees are being informed at an early stage to ensure greater transparency and reduce uncertainty. The transition will be carried out in full compliance with local labour laws and regulatory requirements, and individual consultations will be provided to employees affected by the restructuring.

"Chromos is a brand with a profound tradition and an invaluable legacy in Croatia that has been established by decades of dedicated work of our employees," says Goran Dolenec, the Managing Director of Chromos boje i lakovi d.d. and KANSAI HELIOS Croatia d.o.o.

"It is important to understand that the decision to discontinue the production in Zagreb is not based on past performance or the commitment of the teams at Chromos. It results from an overall assessment of the group's production network, including factors such as scalability and how we can best align our capabilities across the region for the group's future growth. We, the local management, are closely involved throughout the entire process to ensure that decisions are aligned with local requirements and with full responsibility for our employees. Our commitment to customers and partners in the Croatian market remains unchanged. Our core focus shifts entirely toward commercial excellence, marketing, and customer service. By leveraging KANSAI HELIOS’ centralised production strength, we will serve our local clients with an even more innovative product range and an unwavering standard of quality."

Under the new production structure, KANSAI HELIOS will establish a more focused and complementary manufacturing network across the Adriatic region, with each facility leveraging its core strengths. The Količevo site in Slovenia will continue to serve as a key production hub, supported by advanced manufacturing capabilities, strong technical expertise, and integrated research and development functions. Meanwhile, the Gornji Milanovac facility in Serbia will further strengthen its position as an efficient and scalable manufacturing site, supporting regional operations and the company's long-term growth strategy.

Source: KANSAI HELIOS